by S. L. Morgan
I inhaled a new, crisp scent so deeply that I could taste the ice in the air. My headache was subsiding quickly just by standing in this place.
“This place is remarkable.” I looked at Dom in wonder that this was one of his homes.
“As pissed as I am that they lied about going to our main house, I’m glad this is where we wound up. I’ve always loved spending my winters here. If all goes well, you’ll get to learn why I love Wolf Ridge so much.”
“I’ve only ever seen fairy-created snow,” I admitted. “This is so much more enchanting. From the way the air smells, it seems like I’m tasting the snow itself.”
Dom grinned. “Your first real snow, eh?” he pulled me into his arms. “I have no idea what this is all about, but we’re not leaving each other’s sides, okay?”
“What if your dad does one of those elitist moves on his future heir and needs to speak to you alone?”
Dom sighed. “You’ll be by my side,” he said with certainty. “I’m already here at Immortal Academy’s request. I swear to you that my dad did not request his son be pulled out of school for a home visit.”
“What do you think this is all about?”
“God only knows. I’m trying to figure out how Edgewater weaseled his way back into our school, and how that leprechaun had everything to do with her dad hitting up my father.”
“Well, I guess we’d better go find out.” I pulled out of his hug and intertwined my fingers with his offered hand. “Let’s hope Mr. and Mrs. Rossi approve of your mate,” I teased.
Dom’s face was still dark with anger as we walked toward the granite steps that led up to the double, beautifully-carved wood and glass doors. When each door was opened by a man standing on each side, I was hit with the fragrance of natural wood and fresh cedar, then I was awestricken by the entrance of the home we’d walked into.
Hopefully, Dom’s parents weren’t standing in front of us, because I wouldn’t have seen them past the décor of everything surrounding us. This place was magnificent, dreamy, and every wolf shifter’s perfect home all in one.
Chapter Two
“Welcome home, sir,” a man dressed in a black suit and tie greeted us. “I trust school is going well?”
“Thanks, Albert, as well as can be expected.” Dom released my hand and brought me in close to his side. “This is Jenna,” Dom said in a happier tone. “She and I attend school together, and we’ve found that we have much more in common than just our classes.”
The man with gray eyes and pepper-gray hair grinned. “I can see that. Your parents will be delighted to see you both.”
“Where are they?” Dom asked the middle-aged, short and stalky man.
“They anxiously await you both in the corner living room.”
“That’s casual. I have to commend my parents for keeping it low-key on Jenna’s first visit.”
“It’s why we’re meeting here instead of Rossi House,” a commanding voice resonated the doorway to our right.
“Dad,” Dom nodded toward the man he most certainly got his genetics from.
As with all immortals at full maturity, Dom’s father looked no older than a twenty-five-year-old person. Even though the man had a youthful appearance, I could sense the wisdom and maturity exuding from Mark Rossi.
Although Dominic and his father looked very similar through their looks, height, and build, they weren’t exactly doppelgängers. He and Dom shared most features, but his father’s face wasn’t as chiseled as Dom’s. His features were a bit more rounded, his hair was more brown than black, and his mustache and beard helped to distinguish their age difference.
His father was stylishly dressed in navy slacks and a burgundy, button-down suit jacket, and it was easy to see that Mark Rossi was a man of power that went beyond the strong alpha vibes that he radiated.
I knew it was rude to study him, but I was trying to get my bearings in this new environment. This entire experience was overloading my senses. I looked past the uncanny resemblance that Dom shared with his father and the expensive furniture and décor that accentuated this magnificent house. My eyes were drawn to the floor-to-ceiling windows to our left that overlooked snowy mountain landscapes and everything that leprechaun only wished she could have created in her human-world quest.
“I see you appreciate the views our family finds solace in when we are here at Wolf Ridge,” Mark Rossi said with a soft laugh.
“Mr. Rossi,” I smiled over at where he stood, hands in his trouser pockets, “I don’t mean to be rude. It’s just that I’ve never seen anything so beautiful in all my life.”
“Jenna has never had the privilege of living outside the supernatural school system,” Dom said as he rubbed his hand along my shoulder.
“I know.” Mark Rossi’s hazel eyes locked mysteriously onto mine. “That is why my wife, Katherine, and I are pleased to have you join our son here during your summer break.”
“You know?” I questioned, feeling Dom’s hand tighten on my shoulder. “Mr. Rossi—”
He stepped toward us with a friendly smile. “Call me Mark.” He glanced at Dom with an unreadable expression, then he was all smiles as he looked back at me. “How about you run upstairs and change into something more comfortable than your school uniform, and then my wife will give you a quick tour of the house while I have a quick chat with my son.”
Dom pulled me close as if we were suddenly standing in front of an enemy. “Although the trip was short, blackening your car windows made for a longer trip. Jenna and I will both go change our clothes, and then we’ll meet you and mom for dinner.”
Mark’s eyes shifted toward his son, his eyes set with authority. “You should know why I had that done to the windows.” He looked at me, “My apologies, but I had to be sure.”
“Sure about what?” Dom’s voice was low, and I could tell he and his dad were about to get into some heated, alpha argument. “Jen is my mate. Obviously, you know that or she wouldn’t be here with me.”
“Jen?” he looked at Dom with a puzzled expression. “You remember Dark Water?”
“You know about Dark Water? You knew they wiped our memories?” Dom seethed.
“I know a lot of things, son,” Mark said as he kept his cool. “Go freshen up for dinner. We’ll talk later.”
He dismissed us both with his words, and Dom didn’t hesitate to follow his father’s instructions. We turned and headed toward the broad staircase that led to the next floor of the house.
“You okay?” I asked, his hand nearly crushing the bones in mine.
“No, I’m not okay,” he answered. “My father knows about the shit that you and I went through. Since we couldn’t get answers from that useless, mind-screwing oracle, I’m getting my answers from him.” He glanced over his shoulder as we turned and walked down the polished, wooden floors of the hallway. “You and I aren’t separating at all, understand?”
I stopped our walk, looking to where windows lined the hallway to our left. “You need to chill the hell out,” I insisted. “At this rate, you’re going to explode into a rage on your dad before we find out why he wants us here. Maybe it goes hand in hand.”
“My father allowed this shit to happen to us, Jenna. He knew from me saying one word—Jen—that I remembered Dark Water. That tells me that my own father was behind our memories being erased and why we were kept apart.”
“E knew it too,” I reminded him. “Let’s calm down and get the answers that we’ve never gotten. Maybe this will jar my memories, and I’ll remember things too.”
He smiled and stroked my cheek with his hand. “I’m sorry. I am pretty wound up.” He sighed, “All of this is too sudden and random. When it comes to you and me—especially you—I don’t trust anyone or anything anymore.”
“I don’t understand why you’re getting this over-protective nature suddenly, but maybe you’re picking up on something I’m missing.”
“I’ve never felt anything but love and reverence for my dad.” He glanced out at the sn
owy valleys below the windows where we stood. “Something is off, and all these years, my dad has known about this and never told me. He’s lied to me.” His eyes came back to mine, “If my dad were okay with you and me having our memories wiped to keep us from finding each other as mates, then I don’t trust him.” I could see the anger and sadness in his eyes. “I can’t trust him. All this tells me is that he never wanted us to find each other.”
I ran my hands over his chest. “Let’s go find the rooms where we can change out of these stupid school uniforms, then we’ll try and nail this whole thing down. I’m getting some odd vibes too, but I’m wondering if my judgment is clouded because Dean Edgewater is here.”
Dom rolled his eyes. “Damn it,” he growled. “I forgot about our IA babysitter.” He gripped the back of his neck.
“You normally don’t rise to anger like this. You really need to relax a little. Don’t get worked up yet.”
“You’re right,” he answered. “Let’s change, and I’ll introduce you to my mom. Hopefully, that introduction will go far better than you meeting my dad for the first time.”
Chapter Three
Dom walked us into a corner room that seemed to be all windows, and it had a massive balcony on both sides. The back wall, where the massive log-framed bed was situated, was all rock. It felt as close to the earth as you could get when being in a dwelling.
“Over to the right of your bed and through that door is a bathroom. This is one of the nicest suites in this home,” Dom grinned. “If you couldn’t tell, it’s my former bedroom. Guess my parents had no problem kicking me out of it and turning it into the guest room after I went off to IA,” he laughed.
“At least you had parents to kick you out,” I teased. “Seriously, I never had parents, so I guess I’m finding it a bit hard to watch you be so quick to anger with yours.”
Dom pulled me into a tight embrace. “God, I’m sorry about that. Sometimes I never realize how much I can take for granted.” He pressed his lips against my forehead. “My mind just feels like it’s all over the place at random times.”
I leaned back and smiled up at his eyes as they stared intently into mine. “We’re going to be okay. You’re going to be okay. We’re together now—no leprechaun interruptions. We’re at your favorite home like you said, that should help you too.”
“Am I acting like that much of a dick?” He half-smiled.
“It’s not that bad yet, but I can sense your irritability.”
He stepped back and took my hands in his. “I’ve never felt so weak in all my life. These emotions are rocking me.”
“You’re only weak because that leprechaun bitch did what she did in keeping us separated. We’re going to make up for the lost time. Now, let’s get ready and go down to eat.”
“Should I have Gabby bake you up an apple pie? She’s our head chef,” he said with a smirk.
“Of course, you have a head chef,” I teased as I rolled my eyes. “Well, I don’t know. Are your parents the type who would keep apples on hand for baking sweets?”
Dom laughed. “A trip into Aspen can solve that within an hour. I’ll have Gabby send someone out to get the goods for you.”
“Dom,” I stopped him by taking his hand. “Listen, I’m all about people getting to know the best and worst of Jenna and being authentic, but I’m not sure if the best first impression for me to make will be me eating a pie at your family’s dinner table.”
Dom eyed me. “I’ll gag it down right alongside you. If the bear shifter could handle it, I think I can too. Besides, my mother is a vampire, and she’s suffered through watching two alpha wolves, pounding down mounds of steak in front of her at every meal for decades.”
“Your call.” I arched an eyebrow at him.
I guess that’s all he needed because the next thing I knew, my shifter had me in his tight embrace, wrapped up in a consuming kiss. I relished in the always-delicious taste of Dom’s warm and soothing kiss and felt the tension I sensed from him release with his every moan and movement. Things started to get heated up, and I pulled from the new self-control I had and slowly ended the kiss.
Dom’s eyes were glazed, and it took my breath away to see how these small moments we shared did things to him too.
“The first time I saw you,” he ran his hand through my hair, “I had just gotten back from taking some seniors on a grueling quest.” He laughed. “Fin asked if I had seen my new shifter recruit yet, and she asked what I thought about her.”
“Finley asked you?”
He nodded. “I had no idea what the hell she was referencing and why she thought I’d even care. All she had to do was point at the brown-haired beauty, who was eating pie like it was her last meal. I should have been altogether disgusted at the sight of a shifter who was throwing sweets down as hard as you were, but I truly felt a pull toward you the moment those brown eyes met mine.” His eyes grew distant like he was relishing in better times. “God, you were adorable, sexy, and that’s when my wolf blindsided me with a notion of there being something more to you, and the wolf wanted it. I instantly shut the wolf down, unwilling to accept that some new chick at IA would have control over me, and especially my wolf, like that.”
“It’s why you were an asshole to me in the beginning, then, huh?”
“Probably, but I don’t single out my students.” His eyes showed confusion. “I think I was instinctively working you harder to coach you up faster.” He ran a hand through his hair. “Babe, that day and every day until we got together, I battled my feelings and my wolf to not accept you like that. Hell, I didn’t even know how to accept half the damn feelings that were stalking me every time I was around you. Then, having you work with me to save E, knowing my cousin was as drawn to you as I was? That’s when I had to slowly examine what the hell was going on.” He folded his arms, “I don’t know why I’m dumping all this on you, but I swear to God, it makes me outraged to know that we were screwed with. Can you imagine the lives we would have led if our wolves never found each other—at least twice now—after that damn oracle wiped our memories?”
“Positive thoughts only,” I stated. “I think you might want to jump in that massive pool of a bathtub with me and let me rub your back or something. We have to get this energy out of you.”
Dom beamed. “You have a deal,” he said. “We’ll both be staying in here regardless of what my family thinks. We may not be confirmed mates, but we would have been if you didn’t take control last night.”
“And if you didn’t take control at the cabin.”
His lips pulled into a fine line. “We may not have intimately claimed each other, but I am all yours, Jen Silvers. I just hope that you’ll allow yourself to be wholly mine and me be yours.”
“You have lost it.” I laughed. “If you weren’t the only guy that I planned on spending the rest of our immortal lives with, then I wouldn’t even have considered staying alone with you last night. I’m all yours, hope you’re down for that.” I teased.
“That’s it, then?” He brought his hands to each side of my face. “You and me for the rest of our immortal lives—no demons in your mind to throw in distractions of other shifters luring you away from me?” he smirked.
“Last I checked, you took care of that problem, and I’m back on track with who I was born to love and spend this crazy life with.”
He brought his lips down for a soft kiss and then pulled back. “Jen, you are my life and my soul. You’re the other half of who I am, I know that now. I felt that, strongly, with the magic bond our wolves experienced. You have no idea the sense of completion, the comfort, or even the intense desire to have our lives intimately connected at a higher level. When that day comes, I know it will feel much more powerful than what the magic showed me with our merged wolves.”
My heart was skipping beats, my breathing was off, and my body wanted to throw the strong alpha on that bed and experience exactly what he was longing for. His eyes were dark with devotion, power, and desire, and I
was absorbing this intoxicating feeling that was bleeding out of him.
“Then we are mates, whether or not we’ve intimately claimed each other,” I said.
“We are more than that,” he answered. “Tonight, we will enjoy the freedom we have from that school and the relaxation of this home’s environment. Out of respect for my parents, I will explain how committed we are, and that we will vow our lives together after IA so they can be part of that ceremony.”
“The wedding ceremony that Lusa is excited to pull off?”
He laughed. “Yes. Lus and my mother will run us both out of the house with their ideas of decorations and invitees to the ceremony. It’ll be awesome, and I know my dad will definitely appreciate the self-control we’ve both exercised.”
“I’m sure Dean Edgewater will validate how much he wishes we would have gone through with it at that horrible place.”
“He will, I’m certain of that. Edgewater has always looked to impress my parents, and we’re not giving him that.”
“Okay, you seem more relaxed and happier. I’m seriously starved, and I want to meet your mom.”
“Then let’s get changed. Go ahead and take a shower if you want to. I’ll be back in a few.” He winked and then left me to this massive room of splendor.
Chapter Four
I experienced the most revitalizing shower I had ever taken in my life. We were pretty much in an all-window house, and thank goodness this room was on the third floor in its own corner or else the wildlife might’ve been able to see me in my birthday suit while enjoying this all-glass shower.
The massive, spa bathroom had gorgeous slate flooring, a three-person, oversized tub, and the glass shower was situated along a wall of windows, so as I showered, I got the gorgeous panoramic view of this shifter’s dream home.
